Beyond Occident

As many of my loyal readers know, I have been looking over (or lusting over) laptops ever since I realized I would need a laptop for college. Infact, if you travel back in time I believe you’ll find some posts in which I compare possible laptops. In the beginning I had a rather vague budget. I stayed pretty much in the $1500 – $2000 range. After awhile, I realized this wouldn’t be possible so I have changed that to $1000 to $1500.

My requirements for a laptop were pretty basic. A fast dual core processor with at least 1 gb of RAM. I would need at least a 100 gb HDD. Graphics were never really important to me so I was just fine with integrated. Since I knew I would be travelling around with the thing in college, I wanted longish battery life and a small size. Screen size from 12.1 inches to 14.1 inches.

I started out with Windows machines. I believe I looked at the Asus and Dell models in the 14.1 inch range. Then the new HP dv2000t was released and I was in love. All the while, I contemplated Apple’s OS X and their handsome looking MacBook. Another laptop I considered was the HP tx1000 tablet.

I knew I would use this laptop throughout my college career so I wanted to test them out in store before I bought. I went to Best Buy to check out the dv2000t. I loved it. The screen was good, the design was sleek and the performance was great. But then I saw the tx1000. This was the new tablet pc released by HP, and I loved the small form factor and it’s media compabilities. The tx1000 was at the front of the Windows catagory.

When I visited the Apple Store, I could easily notice a difference from Best Buy. The laptops were in good shape and more importantly, you could actually try the laptop. You could load any programs, surf the web or burn disks. I fell in love with the MacBook’s look, keyboard, and operating system. Then I started noticing something. Nearly every podcaster or blogger that I visit used Macs. Robert Scoble, who once worked at Microsoft, switched over to the Mac. Major Nelson, the voice of Xbox Live, talked with numerous guests about how his next laptop would be an Apple. Countless podcasts harped on the fact that OS X was simply easier to use and just got stuff done.

So I made the jump. Two days ago, I ventured up to the Kenwood Apple store and bought a midline MacBook. Here are the specs:

2.16 gHz Core 2 Duo Processor
1 gb RAM
120 gb 5400 RPM HDD
Superdrive
iSight Webcam

$1200

I love it so far. While I’m still experimenting here and there, I feel like I know what I’m doing in the operating system. And I must say, I do notice a difference when I have to use my Windows computer. Macs just seem more user friendly. You still have the same level of customization as you do in Windows yet everything is just easier to do. One of my favorite parts has to be the startup and shut down times. They practically don’t exist.

So far, the only complaint I have is about heat. It seems to be the major problem with MacBooks and it seems that I have not been spared. The bottem left section is very hot to the touch. Most people just say live with it although at times it feels like it’s nearly to the point of burning. However, people have shown this before and it is just how Apple makes their computers. They are soundless and in order to achieve that heat is simply evaporated off the chassis. No fans required. I can stand the heat right now and I don’t think it will make me want to return the laptop.

Well, I think I’m going to make a review for NotebookReview so maybe you can see it there soon.

So long!